A police officer has been arrested, after he allegedly traded sex with a woman in return for getting her out of a speeding ticket.
Darwin Fontenot, an officer in Port Barre, Louisiana, allegedly stopped a woman for speeding and then coerced her into having sex with him, according to the Lafayette Daily Advertiser.
He is now facing a charge of third-degree rape, after the woman told police that he offered leniency on her multiple driving violations, in return for sex.
The woman reported the incident to the police on 27 April, and Mr Fontenot, who is 21 years old, was put on administrative leave on Saturday and released on bond.
Port Barre Police Chief Deon Boudreax said in a statement that the officer’s actions were unacceptable.
“The public holds law enforcement to a high standard, and so do I,” he said.
“Whether the sexual interaction was consensual or not doesn’t justify it. I will not tolerate such unprofessional behaviour from our police officers,” he added.
Mr Boudreax said that the officer admitted to having sex with the woman, but told his superiors that they met when he was off duty.
“Even if he was off duty, it doesn’t make it right,” he said. “An officer, nor any public servant, should engage in that type of activity of exchanging sexual favours for leniency,” Mr Boudreax added.
He said that police officers never want to arrest one of their own colleagues, but added that unprofessional actions harm trust in the force.
“It’s a sad day when we have to arrest one of our own, but wrong is wrong,” he said.
“Police officers are trusted with great power and responsibility to do what is right and to be the wedge between right and wrong. That trust is tarnished when officers are unprofessional.”
